Mail of the week

L.N . Roy Choudhury says why blame the politicians after every terror attack? Every country gets the government it deserves and the government is as effective as we, the people, make it.

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india today digital

December 19, 2008

ISSUE DATE: December 29, 2008

UPDATED: December 20, 2008 11:43 IST

The resurgence of the people’s voice against political apathy and ineptitude was best summed up by INDIA TODAY team (“Betrayed and Savaged”, December 15). But instead of declaring a war on terror, we should declare a war on our inefficient politicians whose acute indifference and political apathy has let Pakistan succeed this far in bleeding our motherland. Apart from periodic empty rhetoric, what have they achieved so far?—Anjum M. Samel, via www.indiatoday.in

Why blame the politicians after every terror attack? Every country gets the government it deserves and the government is as effective as we, the people, make it.—L.N . Roy Choudhury, via www.indiatoday.in

Never before did India suffer such horrendous brutality. We witnessed not only serial bombings or remote-controlled explosions, but a coordinated attack on multiple high-profile targets in India’s commercial capital by highly trained and extremely motivated fidayeens. The terrorists slaughtered innocent men and women, held people hostage, wrecked havoc and engaged the army, navy and NSG commandos in armed combat for more than 60 hours. This strike is nothing but a warning from our enemy that they are at war with us. It is time to wake up from our slumber and act fast or else we are doomed.—Dilbag Rai, via www.indiatoday.in

Citizens are hurt, angry, frustrated and helpless. Mere accepting the resignations of Union home minister Shivraj Patil, Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R.R. Patil is not enough (“Breaking Point”, December 15). A lot needs to be done to curb terrorism and save hapless citizens from falling prey to it over and over again. —Narendra Shah, Mumbai, via www.indiatoday.in

Mandal Messiah

The zeal and passion with which former prime minister V.P. Singh led the country during troubled times will be remembered always (“Obituary’, December 15). The manner in which he “formed” and “gave up” his government is a lesson for our pseudo-secularists and opportunist politicians. Singh never succumbed to forces and pressures that he believed were jeopardising the secularism of India. His secular credentials were proved beyond doubt when he ordered the arrest of L.K. Advani during his historic rath yatra in an effort to save Babri mosque and thereby the secular and democratic fabric of the nation.—Khan Yasir, via www.indiatoday.in

Target Mumbai (“New Terror Strategy”, December 8)

Mumbai needs to bounce back and it will. If this anger is able to put pressure on the political class to enact and implement anti-terrorist laws more effectively, step up our security and intelligence network and make the public vigilant, the ‘never again’ rhetoric will hopefully become reality (“New Terror Strategy”, December 8).Rama Kashyap, via www.indiatoday.in

The country must not lose sight of actions to break the chain of terror. There is a need to eradicate the “non-state” players within the country by dismantling their organisations and preventing their funding. It is only when such resolve is demonstrated that such attacks will be curbed.—C.N. Kumar, via www.indiatoday.in

Crisis group (“Lessons from Mumbai”, December 15)

Your news article (“Lessons from Mumbai”, December 15) said: “In theory, the crisis management group headed by the chief secretary and its members should have met within an hour. In Mumbai the chief secretary was at home, the crisis room was manned by the DGP, Patil and senior officers and Home Secretary Chitkala Zutshi were among those trapped at the Sea Lounge in the Taj and calling for help.” In this context I wish to clarify as under: On November 26, 2008, when the city of Mumbai suffered terrorist attacks, I reached my Mantralaya office sometime around 9.45 pm, within half-anhour of the first reported terrorist firing in Colaba area, and mobilised the Crisis Management Team by calling secretaries concerned. In fact, some of the secretaries had already reached Mantralaya on their own on getting information of the attacks from electronic media. I would like to mention here that throughout the duration of the operation of 59 hours, the crisis management group consisting of myself along with supporting team, coordinated all activities from Mantralaya without any break, with the involvement of all the agencies.

Johny Joseph, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra

Our information was based on inputs received from the then deputy chief minister in charge of home and other senior officials who were with him at the DGP Headquarters. The fact that the chief secretary and other secretaries worked nonstop to man relief and other services is not in dispute. What is being stated is that the first hour response that is so critical was not coherent.—Editor

Corrigendum (“Home Match”, December 22)

The news item (“Home Match”, December 22) erroneously mentioned that O.P. Babbar will serve his eighth term as MLA. It will be his third.

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